Matt Croci was named Wittenberg's head men's basketball coach in the summer of 2016, making him the 19th head coach in school history.

With 18 years of coaching experience, Croci holds the distinction of being the only individual to ever win honors as the NCAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year (1994) and Coach of the Year (2008). His name continues to appear frequently in the Tiger men's basketball record book.

"I am extremely honored and humbled to be named head men's basketball coach at my alma mater. The tradition and history of our program make this a special opportunity for me and my family," said Croci.

"Wittenberg has always been home to me, I look forward to guiding the program into the future and leading our student-athletes to reaching their full potential. I'd like to thank Dr. Helton, the Board of Trustees and Gary Williams for their support and trust in me to lead the program. I also appreciate the outpouring of support shown by our incredible basketball alumni."

This is the fourth time in the modern era that a Wittenberg basketball assistant coach has been elevated to head coach. Croci follows Eldon Miller, class of 1961, who took over for Ray Mears in 1962, after serving as an assistant under Mears in 1961. In 1970, Bob Hamilton, class of 1963, took over for Miller, after serving as his assistant, and most recently Larry Hunter who served as Hamilton's assistant before taking over in 1976.

A 2005 inductee into the Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor, Croci is one of the finest basketball players in Wittenberg history. Between 1990 and 1994, Croci was a standout guard for the Tigers, who compiled a sparkling 98-14 four-year record and earned All-American status in 1994.

As a senior, Croci served as a co-captain of the only Tiger team to complete an undefeated run through the regular season. The 1994 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Player of the Year, Croci led the Tigers to a third-place finish in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Croci served as the head coach at Kenyon College from 2004 to 2010. Prior to his arrival, Kenyon had not made an NCAC tournament appearance going on three years, but under Croci's tutelage, the Lords posted back-to-back top-four finishes for just the third time in program history, which earned him NCAC coach of the year honors in 2008.

During his time in Gambier, Croci saw all of his four-year players excel in the classroom, achieving a graduation rate of 100 percent. On the court, 14 of his players earned All-NCAC honors, including the 2009 NCAC Player of the Year who was also an All-American selection.

Croci's seven seasons at Kenyon also saw 2007 and 2008 NCAC Freshman of the Year selections in the NCAC, the first in Kenyon's school history, as well as a trip overseas to Italy to compete against some of the country's top competition.

The Toledo, Ohio native earned his bachelor's degree in English from Wittenberg in 1994, and he is currently finishing his master's in sports leadership from Northeastern University.

His wife, Patrice, is a 1995 Wittenberg graduate. They reside in Upper Arlington with their three children, Sophia, Cecilia, and Cameron.